U.S. patent number 4,715,465 [Application Number 06/820,433] was granted by the patent office on 1987-12-29 for body construction for motor scooter vehicles.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha. Invention is credited to Yoshinori Mita, Shinji Takahashi.
United States Patent |
4,715,465 |
Takahashi , et al. |
December 29, 1987 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
Body construction for motor scooter vehicles
Abstract
A body construction for a motor scooter vehicle, is supported by
a vehicle frame assembly comprising a front frame having a head
tube on a front end thereof and a rear frame, and comprises a front
cover covering the head tube and a front half portion of the front
frame, a central cover covering the rear frame, a floor panel
disposed on a rear half portion of the front frame between the
front cover and the central cover, and a pair of laterally spaced
rear covers cooperating with the central cover in surrounding an
engine and its exhaust system. The floor panel has at least a
portion integral with the central cover. The rear covers are
arranged to cover sides of the floor panel. Each of the rear covers
has a side portion extending in covering relation to a side of the
vehicle frame assembly, and a substantially flat upper portion bent
inwardly from an upper edge of the side portion, the upper portion
having at least one outlet opening defined therein for discharging
hot air out of the rear cover therethrough. Each rear cover has a
rear portion engaging the rear frame and pressed by a rear luggage
carrier into engagement with the rear frame.
Inventors: |
Takahashi; Shinji (Tokyo,
JP), Mita; Yoshinori (Saitama, JP) |
Assignee: |
Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki
Kaisha (Tokyo, JP)
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Family
ID: |
27276227 |
Appl.
No.: |
06/820,433 |
Filed: |
January 17, 1986 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
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Jan 17, 1985 [JP] |
|
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60-4342 |
Jan 17, 1985 [JP] |
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60-4344 |
Mar 22, 1985 [JP] |
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60-39766 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
180/225; 180/219;
180/229; 296/78.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B62J
17/00 (20130101); B62K 19/46 (20130101); B62K
11/10 (20130101); B62K 2202/00 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B62J
17/00 (20060101); B62K 19/00 (20060101); B62K
11/10 (20060101); B62K 11/00 (20060101); B62K
19/46 (20060101); B62K 011/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;180/219,227,229,225
;296/78.1,38P,37.1 ;D/12107,108,109,110,126 ;280/289S |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Other References
Blue Ribbon Skoot-Mo-Bile Inc., Advertisement from "Toys and
Bicycles", Dec. 1936, vol. 33, No. 12..
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Primary Examiner: Love; John J.
Assistant Examiner: Watts; Charles R.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Weiner; Irving M. Carrier; Joseph
P. Burt; Pamela S.
Claims
We claim:
1. A body construction in a motor scooter vehicle, comprising:
a vehicle frame assembly comprising a front frame having a head
tube on a front end thereof and a rear frame;
a front cover covering said head tube and a front half portion of
said front frame;
a central cover disposed around said rear frame, and comprising an
upright portion surrounding said rear frame;
a floor panel having at least a portion formed as a unitary
component with said central cover and disposed on a rear half
portion of said front frame;
an engine positioned rearwardly of said rear frame and supported
thereby, and an exhaust system extending from said engine; and
a pair of laterally spaced rear covers cooperating with said
central cover in surrounding said engine and said exhaust system,
said rear covers having portions extending forwardly and
substantially covering sides of said floor panel and said portions
being provided with a plurality of connecting means for connecting
said rear covers to said floor panel.
2. A body construction according to claim 1, wherein said floor
panel has a portion separate from said central cover.
3. A body construction according to claim 2, wherein said floor
panel has a slip-prevention pattern of protrusions and depressions
on an upper surface thereof, and said portions integral with and
separate from said central cover being coupled to each other
through a joint extending in harmony with said pattern.
4. A body construction according to claim 1, wherein said floor
panel is entirely integral with said central cover.
5. A body construction according to claim 1, wherein each of said
rear covers includes a side portion extending longitudinally of the
motor scooter vehicle in covering relation to a side of said
vehicle frame assembly, and a substantially flat upper portion bent
inwardly from an upper edge of said side portion, said upper
portion having at least one outlet opening defined in a forward
portion thereof for discharging hot air out of the rear cover
through the opening.
6. A body construction according to claim 5, wherein said outlet
opening is defined in said upper and side portions across the
boundary between said upper and side portions.
7. A body construction according to claim 5, wherein each of said
rear covers has an inlet opening defined in said side portion for
introducing ambient air into the rear cover.
8. A body construction according to claim 1, wherein each of said
rear covers has a side portion extending longitudinally of the
motor scooter vehicle in covering relation to a side of the vehicle
frame assembly, and a rear portion extending transversely of the
motor scooter vehicle in covering relation to a back of the vehicle
frame assembly.
9. A body construction according to claim 8, further
comprising:
a rear luggage carrier having one end coupled to said rear frame
and a portion disposed on said rear portion of each of the rear
covers;
said rear frame and said rear portion of each of the rear covers
having engagement means held in interfitting engagement with each
other; and
said portion of the rear luggage carrier disposed on said rear
portion of each of the rear covers being arranged to press said
rear portions into fitting engagement with said rear frame.
10. A body construction according to claim 9, wherein said rear
portion of the rear cover is separate from said side portion
thereof.
11. A body construction according to claim 10, further including a
bracket through which said side portion of the rear cover, said
rear portion thereof, and said luggage carrier are fastened
together to said rear frame.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a body construction employing a
low floor for a motor scooter vehicle.
2. Description of Relevant Art
Conventional motor scooter vehicles have a front cover covering a
steering column and a front frame and doubling as a leg shield, a
central cover covering a rear frame below a rider's seat and a
floor panel extending at a low position between the front and
central covers and having a pattern of protrusions and depressions
on its upper surface for preventing rider's feet from slipping. The
floor panel has heretofore been separate from the front cover or
the central cover, and had an increased thickness and/or
reinforcing ribs for greater rigidity since the floor panel is flat
in configuration. Therefore, the floor panel is relatively heavy as
compared with the central panel and other body components.
Furthermore, no significant attention has been paid to aesthetic
improvement of the sides of the floor panel.
The prior motor scooter vehicles also have rear cover which,
together with the central cover, surround an engine disposed below
the rider's seat, an exhaust pipe extending from the engine, and a
muffler coupled to the exhaust pipe. The rear covers however tend
to trap hot air heated by the engine, the exhaust pipe, and the
muffler, and such hot air adversely affects operation of the engine
intake system. The rear covers are located one on each side of the
vehicle body. The rear covers have been attached to the vehicle
frame assembly through a complex structure, and it has been
undesirably difficult and time consuming to install the rear covers
on the vehicle frame assembly because of this complex
structure.
The present invention has been made in an effort to solve the
aforesaid problems of the conventional scooter vehicles.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a body
construction for motor scooter vehicles which includes a rigid and
lightweight floor panel having an aesthetically improved
appearance, particularly at the sides thereof.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a body
construction for motor scooter vehicles which can smoothly
discharge hot air heated by an engine, a muffler and other hot
components, which would otherwise be trapped by rear covers
surrounding these components.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a body
construction for motor scooter vehicles which has a simplified
structure for attaching rear covers, whereby the rear covers can be
attached to a vehicle frame assembly with ease.
According to the present invention, the above objects can be
accomplished by a body construction in a motor scooter vehicle
comprising a vehicle frame assembly comprising a front frame having
a head tube on a front end thereof and a rear frame, a front cover
covering the head tube and a front half portion of the front frame,
a central cover covering the rear frame, a floor panel having at
least a portion integral with the central cover and disposed on a
rear half portion of the front frame, an engine positioned
rearwardly of the rear frame and supported thereby, an exhaust
system extending from the engine, and a pair of laterally spaced
rear covers cooperating with the central cover in surrounding the
engine and the exhaust system, the rear covers having portions
covering sides of the floor panel.
Each of the rear covers includes a side portion extending
longitudinally of the motor scooter vehicle in covering relation to
a side of the vehicle frame assembly, and a substantially flat
upper portion bent inwardly from an upper edge of the side portion,
the upper portion having at least one outlet opening defined
therein for discharging hot air out of the rear cover
therethrough.
The body construction also includes a rear luggage carrier having
one end coupled to the rear frame and a portion disposed on the
rear portion of the rear cover, the rear frame and the rear potion
of the rear cover having engagement means held in interfitting
engagement with each other, the portion of the rear luggage carrier
disposed on the rear poriton of the rear cover being arranged to
press the rear portion into fitting engagement with the rear
frame.
The above and further objects, details, and advantages of the
present invention will become apparent from the following detailed
description of preferred embodiments thereof, when read in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a motor scooter vehicle employing a
body construction according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the body construction,
showing principal components thereof;
FIG. 3 is a plan view of a half of a floor of the body
construction;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line IV--IV
of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line V--V of
FIG. 3;
FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of an air inlet opening
defined in a rear cover;
FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of air outlet openings
defined in the rear cover;
FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line
VIII--VIII of FIG. 1;
FIG. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of the rear cover and a
rear panel which are to be coupled to each other;
FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of a structure by which the
rear panel joining the rear covers is attached to a vehicle frame
assembly;
FIG. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view showing an
arrangement in which a rear luggage carrier shown in FIG. 10 is
coupled to the vehicle frame assembly;
FIG. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view
illustrating an arrnagement in which the rear luggage carrier, the
rear panel, and the rear covers are fastened together;
FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of another structure by
which rear covers having integral rear panels are attached to a
vehicle frame assembly;
FIG. 14 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view showing an
arrangement in which a rear luggage carrier shown in FIG. 13 is
coupled to the vehicle frame assembly;
FIG. 15 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view
illustrating an arrangement in which the rear covers shown in FIG.
13 are fastened to the vehicle frame assembly; and
FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a central cover integral with an
overall floor panel.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a motor scooter vehicle, generally
designated at 1, has a frame assembly essentially comprising a head
tube 2, a front frame 3, and a rear frame 4. The front frame 3
extends downwardly from the head tube 2 and includes a
substantially horizontal portion extending rearwardly from an
intermediate portion thereof. The rear frame 4 which is of a
rectangular cross section has a front end coupled to the rear end
of the front frame 3 and includes a front portion extending
obliquely upwardly from the front frame and a substantially
horizontal rear portion extending rearwardly from the front
portion.
The head tube 2 and the front half of the front frame 3 are
surrounded by a front cover 5. The front cover comprises an outer
front cover member 6 providing an integral construction including a
front leg shield component and a front wheel fender, and an inner
front cover member 7 serving as a rear leg shield component. The
outer and inner front cover members 6, 7 are fitted together by
means of resilent hooks 8. Below the front cover 5, there are
exposed a front wheel 9 and a front fork 10 by which the front
wheel 9 is rotatably supported. A handlebar 11 is disposed above
the front cover 5 and coupled to the front fork 10. The handlebar
11 supports on its central portion a box-shaped cover 12 housing
turn indicator lamps, a speedometer, and other indicators and
meters.
A floor panel 16 is mounted on the upper surface of the rear half
of the front frame 3 and has a front end securely connected to the
rear end of the inner front cover member 7. A central cover 13 is
attached to the rear frame 4. The central cover 13 comprises an
upstanding portion 14 surrounding the rear frame 4 and supporting a
rider's seat 47 on its upper end, and a rear floor 15 integral with
the front half of the lower end of the upstanding portion 14 and
extending forwardly therefrom. Also, as shown, the rear floor 15
extends obliquely upwardly from a front end thereof to a rear end
thereof. The rear floor 15 has a front end securely joined to the
rear end of the floor panel 16. The rear floor 15 is highly rigid
since it is integral with the upstanding portion 14. The floor
panel 16 is also highly rigid and lightweight as it is made shorter
by the presence of the rear floor 15.
The upper surface of the floor panel 16, the upper surface of the
rear floor 15, and the upper surface of the rear end of the lower
portion of the inner front cover member 7 jointly have a pattern 17
of protrusions and depressions for preventing a rider's feet from
slipping thereon. As better shown in FIG. 3, the pattern 17
includes a plurality of gaps or interruptions 18 spaced at given
intervals and extending from side edges of the floor panel 16
obliquely to the central axis of the vehicle body. The rear floor
15 of the central cover 3 and the floor panel 16 are interconnected
at a joint 19, and the inner front cover member 7 and the floor
panel 16 are interconnected at a joint 20. The joints 19, 20 are
aligned with the gaps 18.
The floor panel 16 is connected to the rear floor 15 and the inner
front cover member 7 through joint structures shown in FIGS. 4 and
5, respectively.
As shown in FIG. 4, a bracket 21 integrally projects forwardly from
the front edge of the rear floor 15 and has two upper and lower
steps 22, 23 successively lowered in the forward direction. The
upper step 22 is depressed from the rear floor 15 a distance equal
to the thickness of the floor panel 16, and the lower step 23 has
an opening 24. The floor panel 16 has a recess 25 having on its
bottom a thicker portion 26 fitted in the opening 24 and a bolt
insertion hole 27 defined through the thicker portion 26. For
assembly, the lower step 23 is placed on a bracket 28 secured to
the vehicle frame assembly, and the thicker portion 26 is fitted in
the opening 24, followed by fastening the rear floor 15 and the
floor panel 16 together by means of a bolt 29 inserted through the
hole 27 and a nut threaded over the bolt 29. The rear end of the
floor panel 16 is dimensioned such that it abuts against the upper
step 22 of the bracket 21 at the time the rear floor 15 and the
floor panel 16 are fixed to each other. Since the distance which
the upper step 22 is depressed from the rear floor 15 is equal to
the thickness of the floor panel 16, the rear floor 15 and the
floor panel 16 as they are coupled are held in coplanar relation.
The joint 19 between the rear floor 15 and the floor panel 16
remains inconspicuous and is not required to be concealed as by a
lacing braid since the joint 19 is aligned with one of the gaps 18
of the pattern 17.
As shown in FIG. 5, the rear end of the inner front cover member 7
has a two-step bracket 30 extending rearwardly. The floor panel 16
has a recess 32 with its bottom held against the lower step 31 of
the bracket 30. The lower step 31 and the bottom of the recess 32
have respective bolt insertion holes 33, 34 through which a bolt 35
is inserted. The inner front cover member 7 and the floor panel 16
are fastened by the bolt 35 to a set bar 36. The floor panel 16 and
the inner front cover member 7 are held in coplanar relation with
the joint 20 therebetween being aligned with one of the gaps 18 of
the pattern 17.
As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, a rear cover 37 is connected to
the central cover 13 in covering relation to the rear and side
portions of the vehicle. The rear cover 37 is disposed on each side
of the central cover 13 and the floor cover 16, and comprises a
side portion 48 extending longitudinally of the vehicle 1 and an
upper portion 42 bent inwardly from the upper edge of the side
portion 48 and inclined rearwardly in the upward direction. The
upper portion 42 is joined to the flat rear floor 15 in coplanar
relation thereto. In order to couple the rear cover 37 to the
central cover 13 and the floor panel 16, the rear cover 37 has
inward resilient hooks 18 on the upper edge of the side portion 48
in the front half of the rear cover 37. The resilient hooks 48
engage in openings 39 defined in skirts 15a, 16a extending
downwardly from the side edges of the rear floor 15 and the floor
panel 16. The rear cover 37 also has resilient hooks 40 on the
inner edge of the upper portion 42 in the front half of the rear
cover 37. The resilient hooks 40 engage in openings 41 defined in
the rear portion of the central cover 13. The front half of the
rear cover 37, particularly the front half of the side portion 48,
covers one side of the floor panel 16. Thus, both sides of the
floor panel 16 are covered by the two rear covers 37.
A power unit 44 by which a rear wheel 43 is rotatably supported is
accommodated in the rear covers 37. Each of the rear covers 37 has
an air inlet opening 45 defined below the side portion 48, and air
outlet openings 46 defined across the boundary between the upper
and side portions 42, 48 for discharging hot air from the engine
and the muffler. As better shown in FIG. 6, the opening 45 is
defined between an outwardly projecting web 49 and the side portion
48. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the air outlet openings 46 are
defined in the upper and side portions 42, 48 by surrounding walls
46a projecting inwardly from the upper and side portions 42, 48.
The hot air produced in the rear covers 37 goes upwardly along the
side portion 48 and is discharged out from the air outlet openings
46 when or before hitting the lower surface of the upper portion
42. Therefore, the hot air from the engine and the muffler is
prevented from being trapped in the rear covers 37. The air inlet
opening 45 is effective in introducing fresh ambient air into the
rear covers 37 and forcing air to flow in the rear covers 37 for
promoting the discharge of the air from the openings 46 while the
motor scooter vehicle 1 is moving.
As shown in FIG. 8, the power unit 44 has a front end (not shown)
pivotally supported on the lower back surface of the rear frame 4
within the rear covers 37. The power unit 44 is of an integral
construction comprising an engine 50 and a case 51 housing a power
transmission element such as a chain. The rear wheel 43 is
rotatably supported on the rear end of the case 51. The muffler,
denoted at 53, is connected to the rear end of an exhaust pipe
extending from the engine 50 and is also housed in one of the rear
covers 37. A fuel tank 54 is disposed between the rear frame 4 and
the rider's seat 47.
The rear ends of the rear covers 37 are interconnected by a rear
panel 60 as shown in FIG. 9. The rear panel 60 is coupled to each
of the rear covers 37 by resilient hooks 61 formed on the rear end
of the rear cover 37 and engaging in respective holes 62 defined in
the rear panel 60. A bracket 63 having a bolt insertion hole 63a
extends from the rear end of each rear cover 37. A rear luggage
carrier 70, the rear panel 60, and each rear cover 37 are fastened
together to the rear frame 4 by a bolt (not shown) extending
through the bolt insertion hole 63a in the bracket 63. The rear
covers 37 are therefore supported on the rear frame 4 through the
rear panel 60.
More specifically, the rear panel 60 is attached to the rear frame
4 as shown in FIGS. 10 through 12. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the
rear luggage carrier, generally denoted at 70, has attachment bars
72 extending respectively through holes 64 defined in the rear
panel 60 and secured to the rear frame 4 by bolts 71 extending
through bolt insertion holes 55 defined in an attachment member 4a
mounted on the upper surface of the rear end of the rear frame 4
and nuts 73 threaded over the bolts 71. As illustrated in FIGS. 10
and 12, an attachment member 4b mounted on the rear end of the rear
frame 4 has engagement pins 56 including larger-diameter portions
57 fitted respectively in openings 65 defined in the rear panel 60
and the bolt insertion holes 63a defined in the rear cover brackets
63. The rear luggage carrier 70 also has a substantially U-shaped
leg 74 having bolt insertion holes 76 defined therein. The leg 74
is fastened to the attachment member 4b by threaded portions 58 of
the engagement pins 56 which extend through the bolt insertion
holes 75, respectively, and nuts 78 threaded over the threaded
portions 58. As shown in FIG. 12, the upper surface of the rear
panel 60 lies substantially flush with the upper surfaces of the
larger-diameter portions 57 such that the fastening forces produced
by the nuts 78 act on the larger-diameter portions 57.
The rear panel 60 and the rear cover brackets 63 can be assembled
together simply by fitting the engagement pins 56 in the openings
65, 63a. The rear panel 60 is securely retained in place by
attaching the rear luggage carrier 70 to the attachment members 4a,
4b. Therefore, the assembling process for the rear panel 60 and the
rear luggage carrier 70 is quite simple, and the rear panel 60 can
be positioned properly and firmly fixed in place reliably in such
simple assembling process.
FIGS. 13 through 15 show a modified construction by which rear
covers are directly attached to the vehicle frame assembly without
a separate rear panel. Rear covers 80 (only one shown) which are
symmetrical in shape are each of an unitary structure comprising a
side portion 84 and a rear panel 86. The rear panel 86 has a recess
88 defined in an inner wall surface thereof. The rear frame 4 has
engagement pins 56' on the attachment member 4b. A rear luggage
carrier 70' has attachment bars 72' and a substantially U-shaped
leg 74'. The rear luggage carrier 70' is securely fixed to the rear
frame 4 by bolts 71' extending through the ends of the attachment
bars 72' inserted through holes 87 defined in the rear covers 80,
and holes 55' defined in the attachment member 4a. The leg 74' is
pressed downwardly against the upper surface of the rear panels 86
of the rear covers 80 to keep the engagement pins 56' fitted
respectively in the recesses 88, so that the rear panel 86 is
securely held in engagement with the rear frame 4.
The rear panels 86 shown in FIG. 13 are simpler in arrangement
having only two fastening pins rather than four as in the
embodiment of FIG. 10, and thereby to allow the rear covers 80 be
attached to the rear frame 4 at an improved rate of production.
Also, the integral rear panels 86 on which the rear luggage carrier
70' is placed are better in appearance than the separate rear panel
60.
In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the central cover 13 has
the integral rear floor 15, and the floor panel 16 is separate from
the central cover 13. However, the floor panel may be integral with
the central cover as shown in FIG. 16.
In FIG. 16, a central cover 113 comprises an upstanding portion 114
having a front wall 114a and a pair of side walls 114b integral
therewith, and a floor panel 116 integral with the front half of
the lower end of the upstanding portion 114 and extending laterally
and forwardly therefrom. The arrangement shown in FIG. 16 is
advantageous in that the number of parts required and the number of
assembling steps are reduced for improving the production
efficiency.
Although there have been described what are at present considered
to be the preferred embodiments of the present invention, it will
be understood that the invention may be embodied in other specific
forms without departing from the spirit or essential
characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to
be considered in all aspects as illustrative, and not restrictive.
The scope of the invention is indicated by the appended claims
rather than by the foregoing description.
* * * * *